The newly appointed State Minister for the Religious Affairs Ministry Faridul Haque Khan on Sunday said people have a common misconception about idol and sculpture. They are not the same thing.

He made the remarks while talking to reporters after joining office for the first time in Religious Affairs Ministry at Secretariat. 

When asked about Hefazat-e-Islam's demand on removing all statues from Bangladesh, the state minister said: "First we have to understand the difference between statues and idols. They are not the same thing. Once we can make people realize the difference, any problem can be solved."

"If we go to Pakistan, India or any other countries in the world, we will see statues everywhere. We have pictures of Bangabandhu embedded in our currency notes and coins and we have been carrying them in our pockets," he said. 

"This is not a new phenomenon for Bangladesh but can be seen across the globe as well as in all the Muslim-majority countries like Egypt and Saudi Arbaia. If everyone can do it, why can't we? Those who are criticizing it must realize that idols and statues are not the same thing," the state minister said.  

When asked what message the government is delivering to the Hefazat protesters, he said: "I want to state one thing very clearly that I will sit with the protesters and have a discussion. We need to think about it and then make a decision."

Earlier at a Hathazari mahfil in Chattogram on Friday night, new chief of Hefazat-e-Islam, Junaid Babunagari threatened to pull down all the statues in the country, no matter which party erected them. 

BDST: 1530 HRS, NOV 29, 2020
AP/SMS